The Best “Cheap Wheels” That Don’t Suck

The Best “Cheap Wheels” That Don’t Suck

We get it, car parts aren’t cheap. But that doesn’t mean you should have to sacrifice quality to save a few bucks, especially when it comes to aftermarket wheels. The problem is, there are a ton of brands out there in the “Budget Friendly” category, but many of them we wouldn’t trust as far as we could roll them. The good news is that we’ve been doing this aftermarket wheel thing for a long time and can tell you which brands to keep on your radar when it comes to some cheap wheels that don’t suck.

Konig Wheels

For decades, Konig has been a staple in the aftermarket wheel world. From standard cast options, to their iconic flow form series, and even their new forged stuff, they have kept the budget-conscious enthusiast in mind when it comes to their wheels. Konig was one of the first brands to really double down on flow-formed wheels, and that has brought forth some favorites such as the Hypergram, Ultragram, Heliogram, and the MRK1. All offer a strong yet lightweight solution that is capable of track use, as well as coming in all the sizes to get the fitment you are looking for.

Average Price of 18” Flow Formed Konig Wheels: $1,200

Enkei Wheels

Arguably one of the most respected aftermarket wheel brands that can fall into this category, Enkei Wheels. Even though Enkei does have higher-end options in their “Racing Revolution” series of wheels, they have some absolute heaters in their Tuning and Racing series of wheels. Most notably, of course, the Enkei RPF1. Call it basic if you will, but there is a reason you see this wheel everywhere. It’s insanely lightweight, comes in almost every size imaginable for sport tuner cars, and comes in at an incredible price for what it is. But if the RPF1 isn’t your thing, that’s okay! Other options such as the T6R, PF01, and the Raijin are also good ones to choose from. Made similarly to the RPF1 with Enkei’s MAT technology and Spec-E engineering, they do everything that makes the RPF1 great, just in a different style.

Average Price for 18” Enkei Wheels: $960 – $1,200

Motegi Wheels

Motegi Wheels have been around for a while but have always seemed to fly a bit under the radar. However, in recent years, they have come out swinging with some killer new designs at a reasonable price, with some great specs to them. If you want to keep things simple, the cast MR154 Battle keeps that classic 7-spoke style going in 2025. Looking to step it up with something more performance-oriented? The MR145 Tracklite has been a killer wheel for its price for many years. And with new models such as the MR158 Stubaki and the three spoke MR161 Kojin, it’s cool to see where Motegi is heading.

Average Price for 18” Motegi Flow Formed Wheels: $1,200 – $1,350